Running hot

The Dukes were riding a six-game winning streak, but blew a tire in the second period on Sunday

The Wellington Dukes had a brilliant week—but for one period. The Dukes emerged from a raucous outing in Minden with an 8-5 win last Thursday. At home, Wellington hosted Buffalo in what many described as the most thrilling game of the season. Then, in a matinee outing in Toronto, the Dukes started well enough, but gave up five unanswered goals in a nine-and-a-half minute span in the second period, effectively throwing the game away. In three games, the Dukes averaged five goals per game. But one bad period.

DUKES 8 – HALIBURTON 5
It was a wild and woolly affair in the Haliburton hills on Thursday. The Dukes opened up a 3-2 lead in the first period and widened the lead to 5-3 by the end of the second. But in doing so, they had allowed a pair of power play goals. The Dukes would serve eight penalties in the game.

Wellington added a couple more goals in the third and seemed set to ride a four-goal lead to the final buzzer. But the Huskies had other plans. Two Haliburton goals, 15 seconds apart, suddenly made matters interesting. The Dukes tightened up, and Captain Corey Jewitt buried an empty-netter to seal the wild road win.

Zach Mascard led his team with a goal and an assist. Jacob Brown earned his first win in a Dukes jersey.

DUKES 5 – BUFFALO 3
The Dukes made up for a sparse home schedule with a massively entertaining game on Friday. The Dukes don’t see the Junior Sabres often. It was their sole regular season match.

Buffalo came all out for this cross-border match. Fast. Hard-working. Tenacious. And enough talent to contest every game they play.

Indeed, Buffalo’s leading point-getter beat the Duke’s netminder, Dario Cantini, just 35 seconds into the game. But in a vital pushback move, Ethan Murray broke up the right wing and powered his way to the net, bulling the puck into the net.

Early in the second, and the Dukes were killing a penalty, Cantini turned away a hard shot right onto the stick of a Buffalo sniper. But seconds later, the Dukes had the man-advantage. Wellington moved the puck around the perimeter. Cross-ice pass to Ryan Schaap in the face-off dot. Schaap picked the top corner with his shot. The game was tied again. It seemed this game was destined to go back and forth.

But another Dukes penalty kill. Wellington escaped unscathed and then turned up the pace. A one-timer just missed the corner. The Dukes continued to control the puck. Zach Mascard worked the dirty ice in front of the Buffalo netminder. Loose puck. Mascard gave the Dukes their first lead in the game.

Still, the Junior Sabres kept pressing. Midway through the third, Buffalo’s Cam Doran, playing on every other shift by this point, danced into the Dukes’ zone and then slid across the mid-slot. He found a lane. Shot. The game was tied again. But moments later, Ethan Murray potted his second goal of the game, restoring the Dukes’ slim lead. Buffalo poured on the pressure. But the Dukes’ defence held. Mascard scored on an empty net to end the suspense.

The team may look back upon Friday’s game for inspiration, a game where every aspect— offence, defence and netminding—were all functioning at a high level for a full 60 minutes.

Buffalo went on to defeat Cobourg 2-0 the next night. They battled Trenton to 3-2 double overtime loss on Sunday.

DUKES 4 – ST. MICHAELS 6
Things started so well on Sunday afternoon at St. Mikes. The Dukes led 2-0 after one period— Ethan Murray scored and assisted on Zach Carrier’s goal. But the Dukes gave up a short-handed goal less than a minute into the second period. It stung. Shortys always do. Captain Cory Jewitt responded with a powerplay goal a couple of minutes later.

Then the wheels fell off. Five unanswered Buzzer goals. One dreadful 11-minute span. A game the Dukes appeared to be managing—suddenly and completely fell apart.

Tyler Tsoukalas scored in the third to blunt the blow—but it was much too little too late.

UP NEXT: STOUFFVILLE, MISSISSAUGA AND NIAGARA FALLS
It is another busy weekend coming up for the Dukes. On Friday, they welcome Stouffville to Wellington for the second time this season. The Dukes edged the Spirit 5-4 in the previous outing. The Spirit have won four of their last five games.

On Saturday, the Dukes head to Port Credit to face the Chargers. Mississauga is enduring another tough season with just seven wins in 27 games. They have allowed, on average, 5.5 goals per game.

The Dukes return home on Sunday to welcome the Niagara Falls Canucks for an afternoon game. The Falls have been kicking around the middle of the West Conference pack this season. They have 13 wins in 23 games.